- Explore more »
The Sustainable Meat of the Future: Mealworms?
Mealworms might seem unpalatable to many, but a new study indicates that they might be the climate-friendly protein alternative of the future
December 19, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Pitcher Plants Entice Ants With a Water Slide of Death
A Venezuelan pitcher plant's specially adapted, wettable hairs counter the sticky pads and little claws on insect feet and are especially deadly for ants
December 19, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
How to Solve Human Evolution’s Greatest Hoax
One hundred years after Piltdown Man was "discovered," scientists are still investigating how and why the fossil find was faked
December 19, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Eastern Cougar ‘Ghost Cat’ Declared Extinct
The eastern cougar is extinct. But did it ever exist in the first place?
December 18, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Ten Best Ocean Stories of 2012
From deep-sea squid habits to vanishing coral reefs, here are the ocean stories we couldn’t stop talking about this year.
December 18, 2012 |
By Hannah Waters
Crayfish Have Been Secretly Spreading a Deadly Frog Epidemic
The more we can learn about how chytrid fungus spreads and attacks, the better chances we have at saving the world's amphibians
December 18, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses
Some reindeer really do have red noses, a result of densely packed blood vessels near the skin's surface
December 18, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
A Brand New Bee Was Just Named After Sheldon From ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Andre Nemesio and his team just named a brand new orchid bee Euglossa bazinga, after the catch phrase used by Sheldon Cooper on the television show, The Big Bang
December 17, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Tree Climbers, Wood Eaters, and More: The Top 10 Human Evolution Discoveries of 2012
This year's hominid finds illuminate the great diversity and adaptability of our ancient relatives
December 17, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
There’s an Explanation for What’s Killing Thousands of Squid in California
For residents of the central California coast there might finally be an explanation for why thousands of dead squid have littered their beaches this week
December 17, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Persistence of Memory in Mice
A new study shows that female mice who smell pheromones in potential mates' urine will constantly return to the site of exposure even weeks later
December 13, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Hunt for African Wildlife From Your Computer
A new citizen science project lets you in to the beautiful world of Serengeti National Park
December 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Top 7 Human Evolution Discoveries From South Africa
The search for humans' most ancient ancestors began in South Africa, where some of paleoanthropology's most iconic fossils have been found
December 12, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
The Most Exclusive Coffee in the World Is Harvested From Elephant Poo
Two cups of the so-called Black Ivory coffee cost around $50, while a pound of the digested beans total a tidy $500
December 11, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Could Porcupine Quills Help Us Design the Next Hypodermic Needle?
Microscopic barbs allow porcupine quills to slice into flesh easily and stay there stubbornly—qualities that could prove useful in medical applications
December 10, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Environmentalists Want To Keep Oil Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Wait, What?
Oil companies want to pull their rigs from the Gulf, but environmentalists are saying "no"
December 10, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Google Gives Millions To Build Poacher-Hunting Drones
Google has joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and countless wildlife organizations in the battle against illegal wildlife trade
December 10, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Four Species of Homo You’ve Never Heard Of, Part II
The history of anthropology is littered with many now-defunct hominid species that no longer have a place in the human family tree
December 10, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Stylish But Illegal Monkey Caught at Ikea
A confused monkey wearing a shearling coat and diaper was found wandering around outside an Ikea store in Toronto
December 10, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Catfish Are Teaching Themselves to Catch Pigeons
In southwestern France, catfish are throwing themselves on the shore to catch pigeons
December 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
